Apparatus for sterilizing liquids by irradiating means



ELLNER APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING LIQUIDS Oct. 18, 1949. G G

BY IRRADIATING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 INVENTOR. GEORGE QELLNEE.

Oct. 18, 1949. G. G. ELLNl-:R 2,485,267

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING LIQUIDs BY IRRADIATING MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TT'OENEK G. G. ELLNER APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING LIQUIDS Oct. 18, 1949.

BY IRRADIATING MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 u.- i all L l INVENTOR. GEORGE G. ELLA/EE.

ATTogA/EY,

'Patented Oct. 18, i949 APPARATUS FRSTERILIZING LIQUIDS BY IRRADIATIN G MEANS George G. Ellner, Long Island, N. Y.

Application August 2, 1945, Serial No. 608,499

7 Claims. (Cl. Z50-43)' This invention relates generally to the application of ray-emission means and has further reference to that class of devices employing electrical lamps, tubes or similar instrumentalities which generate the bactericidal band of the ultra-violet spectrum for destroying or appreciably reducing the number of bacteria, molds, yeasts algae, virus and other micro-organisms or other undesirable germs, and for other germicidal or sterilizing purposes, and to possibly replace pasteurization, heat or chemical sterilization and to eliminate the use of preservatives. It has more particular reference to devices employing tubular gaseous lamps or mercury discharge devices and spray or atomizing means for more eiectually irradiating liquids made to iiow through said devicesand is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial Number 484,156, led April 23, 1943, now Patent No. 2,425,672, issued August 12, 1947.

It is an object of the present invention to provide ray-emission means installed in tanks, vehicles, compartments, and other containers or receptacles, in such a manner, as to provide a sterile environment surrounding the liquid to be treated as well as to intimately irradiate the liquid.

It is a further Aobject of the present invention to provide for spraying or atomizing liquids in an enclosed chamber under the inuence of sterilizing, bactericidal or other types of ultra-violet rays,"infrared or other rays. Such spraying or atomizing promotes a more thorough and eiective sterilization or other desired treatment of the liquid than would be otherwise possible.

These means where used for bactericidal purposes may be employed to supplement pasteurization, just .prior to bottling; or, where feasible, to replace pasteurization, since this method, when properly used, will prove highly effective as a means of destroying organisms which would cause fermentation and spoilage; or these means may be used to increase vitamin D content or other elects desired.

Since more rapid and more emcient ultra-violet K or other irradiation may be accomplished on thev liquid or other substance to be treated when in atomized, spray, suspension, colloidal, or homogenized form or condition, due to the rariflcation of the substances and the multiple reection and refraction of the ultra-violet or other rays by the numerous iine particles of the liquid or other substance, further objects of the present invention are to provide means for eiectively placing said liquid or other substance in such formv or condition for irradiation treatment; to provide a suitable spraying, atomizing, homogenizing or similar arrangement to accomplish the desired break` down of the liquid or other substance, and providing a chamber or vessel of predetermined size and shape into which the liquid or other substance is introduced in its new state and in which a source of ultra-violet rays of selected wave length or infra-red rays or other source of energy.

is properly installed to rapidly and eiiectively im' part increased vitamin D content or to sterilize, or heat, or otherwise treat the liquid or substance according to the predetermined source of energy,

or combined sources of energy'selected. In this mannenfor example, a liquid or other substance to be treated could simultaneously be sterilized by means of bactericidal radiations, have its vitaminv bacterial, algaeic or other spoilage or changes inl and for maintaining intact in good condition for appreciable periods the liquid.

The above and other objects and advantages'of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modiiications in structure and relation contem-` plated by this invention, drawings depicting certain forms of the invention have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a device employing irradiatlng means and made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through line 2-,2

of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of tanks having irradiating means and made in accordance with f the invention in modied forms;

v Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through a conftainer showing the invention embodied in aform" wherein the liquid to be irradiated is broken up or atomized for more thorough irradiation of the liquid;

Fig. 6 is a-sectional view showing a typical plan arrangement of nozzles and tubes employed in a device such as is illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side-elevational view of a U-tube made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view taken through a container having a plurality of spray units; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the right-hand portion of the cover of the container shown in Fig..9, illustrating the typical arrangement of the tubes employed therein.

Referring now to the drawings (Figs. 1 and 2) the tank 25 comprises container portion 26 having side walls 21, bottom 28 and removable cover 29.

Secured to cover 29 is a housing 30 for ballast transformer or other auxiliary and vhandle 3'I. Extending through cover 29 from housing 30 is a U-shaped irradiating tube 32, which maybe of the ultra-violet type. Tube 32 is secured tosockets (not Shown) in housing 30 in conventional manner. lHousing 30 holds Ythe electrical control, such as, an auxiliary ballast or transformer for tube 32. A supporting rod .33 issecured tocover 29 at 34, having a supporting head 35 on the bottom thereof held against tube 32 by spring 36. Near bottom 28 of housing `26 is -a circular tube 31 having thev perforations 38 `and being connected to the supply line at 39. The liquid to -be irradiated shoots out through the perforations "38 in anupward direction as indicated -at 40 reaching its kpeak at 4| and then dropping as at 42, reaching the outlet tube at 43. During the ascent and descent of the spray, the liquid .in this form will be subjected to the activating action of the irradiating tubes 32. form rof tube 31, it will be necessary to .closeone of itsends 44.

The invention illustrated in Fig. 3 lhasapplica-v tion to a storage `tank 50 having an inlet 5| 'and outlet 52. Inlet 5| is higher up on the 'Wall 53 of tank 50 and `is provided with a spray head 54 causing liquid passing through inlet 5| to leave spray head 5f?. in the i'orm of a spray v55, subjecting the same to the irradiating influences o1 .a plurality of irradiating lamps 53 secured to the dome-shaped cover 51 of tank 50.

The invention disclosed in Fig. 4 comprises tank or container 65 having side walls $6, bottom 6.1 and cover 68. Inlet -69 passes through bottom 6Fl and is preferably provided with ya valve 10. Upright pipe portion 1| of .inletES has perforations 12 at its upper end, thus ,permitting the liquid to be irradiated to leave the tube in the form of va spray 13. Another nozzle 14 is connected tov an -additional inlet pipeline 15 -having valve 16, causing a spray 11 to be forced in downward direction in ltank 65. Sprays 13 and 11 will thus cross -each other causing -a break-up of the liquid into fine particles which will -thus -be more eiciently irradiated by the tubes 18. -thismodication the tubes 18 have their ends terminate in sockets 1,9, 80, without the container 65, Iand being covered by housings 8|, 82.. Housing 8|` is preferably sub-divided forming a transformer compartment 83.

In Fig. 5, the invention is embodied in -a tank or other container comp-rising :the -bod-y |:0| and the cover |02. It is preferable .that the cover be made to overlap the `top of the body 10i-as indicated at |03; the cover is secured to .the body by means of clamps |04. -Secured -to 'cover |102 are vthe transformers or other electrical auxiliaries supplied with electric current by the fcable- |06. A handle |01 facilitates the removal of-cover I 02. Coming from itransformers |;05,are lcables Because .of .the particular e.

|08 at the end of which are sockets |09 connecting with U-shaped ultra-violet or other suitable rayemitting tubes l0. Housing |00 is provided with partition having suitable openings ||2 for insertion of tubes ||0, each of said openings ||2 being closed by a plate ||3 which forms a brace and support for the tube ||0 and also seals off the compartment ||4 in body |0| from compartment ||5 in cover |02. Liquid-tight gaskets |I3a. are provided between plates .|.I3fandpartition I It is also understood that lamp ||0 is secured to plate ||3 in a liquid-tight manner .by such l screws H6. Sockets |09 connect with prongs ||1 of tube 0. At "the bottom of compartment ||4 is `locatedan inlet ||8 and outlet ||9. Inlet tube ||8 connects with a nmnifold |20, the top of which-is provided with .a .plurality of .nozzles 42| the tips |122 -of which are `directed toward each other thus `causing the .streams .of liquid coming from the nozzles vto violently impinge upon each other, causing the liquid to be `atomized .into a fine spray |23 which conditions the liquid for a' more through sterilization'bythe activating lamps The embodiment ofthe invention-illustrated in Figs. 9 land 10,comprises tank body |30 hav-ing a cover |3| and removable sections `|32 for electrical auxiliaries, such as, transformers. Section |32 is preferably provided with lhandles |33 and has lthe current supply cable |34. `A vplurality o'f cables A| emerge 'from section |32 at lthe ends o f which are provided conventional `sockets |340 connecting with U-tubes |321 within tank |30.

Cover |3f| is provided with openings |38 for the.

insertion of tubes |31., the said-opening |38 being covered by .plates |39 similar to plate H3 and secured thereto by screws 1| 40. `Section l|32lis supported oncover r|3| .by legs |4|.

Bottom |42 inclines in all .directions as indicated at .|43 towards .the outlet |44. Inlet .pipe

, terminates in .a plurality of .spray heads |413 similar -to spray heads |2| with respect to Fig. -5. Liquid entering through inlet |45 and -spray heads `|46 will be caused -to become atomized and upon falling upon inclinedsurfaces |43, will form a film of liquid flowing towards outlet Y|44 and this `film will be vfurther irradiated by the steriliz ing rays emitted by the tubes |31. It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention -devices in which .the various objects hereinabove `set forth, together with many thoroughly lpractical advantages, are successfuly achieved. l

.As many .possible embodiments may be -made of the above invention, 4and Aas .many changes might be 4made in the embodiment above set,

forth, it lis to be understood that Vall vmatterherevinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying y.

drawings is to be :interpreted as illustrative and not .in a limiting sense.

I claim.:

with said control means, and spray means in said receptacle, said spray means comprising a plurality of nozzles, each of said nozzles having an angularly-disposed tip portion, the said tip p0rtions facing each other whereby liquids coming through said nozzles will be directed towards a central area and impinge upon each other.

2. A ray-emission device comprising a U- shaped lamp having terminals at its end portions, a rigid plate connecting said portions adjacent said terminals, a receptacle having an opening, a support at said opening, said plate being connected to said support, said lamp projecting within said receptacle, and spray means in said recep-l tacle, said spray means comprising a plurality of nozzles, each of said nozzles having an angularlydisposed tip portion, the said tip portions facing each other whereby liquids coming through said nozzles will be directed towards a central area and impinge upon each other.

3. A ray-emission device for irradiating liquids comprising a receptacle, a plurality of ray-emission tubes extending within said receptacle, spray means in said receptacle, said spray means comprising a plurality of nozzles having angularly directed upper portions for causing sprays of liquid which may be forced through the nozzles to impinge upon each other.

4. In a ray-emission device for irradiating liquids, in combination, a receptacle, a source of u1- tra-violet rays in said receptacle, and a plurality of spray nozzles having outlets arranged so that streams of liquid discharged, respectively, by said nozzles will substantially entirely impinge upon one another whereby the degree of atomization of the liquid exposed to said rays will be increased.

5. In a ray-emission device, the combination according to claim 4, wherein said nozzles include a iii-st and a second nozzle having outlets facing each other, said source of rays being positioned substantially midway between said first and second nozzles.

6. In a ray-emission device, the combination according to claim 5, wherein said first and second nozzles are positioned adjacent the bottom and the top of said receptacle, respectively.

7. In a ray-emission device, the combination according to claim 4, wherein said nozzles are disposed substantially parallel to and adjacent one another, said outlets being directed toward a common point of intersection.

GEORGE G. ELLNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

